Nooks and crannies of Citi Field have made umpires' nights a lot more strenuous

Justin Lane/EPAUmpires convene during the sixth inning of Wednesday night's game at Citi Field, trying to determine if Mets outfielder Daniel Murphy's home run would count, while Nationals pitcher Jordan Zimmerman (left) watches and waits.

NEW YORK -- The 20-inch television is in a room beneath the stands on the third-base side, just off a tunnel leading to the field.

Most umpires, upon arriving for their first series at Citi Field, aren't sure exactly where it is. But if the past few days are any indication, they will all be intimately familiar with it by season's end.

The Mets had two home runs reviewed by instant replay this week against the Nationals, making it three in 23 home games this year. And two of the umpires who worked that series said there will likely be many more disputed calls at the Mets' quirky new fun house.

"The ballpark is a beautiful, fabulous ballpark, but it's very challenging for us," crew chief Larry Vanover said. "And I think you're going to see a lot of these here."

Some of the challenges are obvious. With a meandering outfield wall that changes heights seven times and fans seated close enough to interfere with balls from the front row, Citi was bound to produce some tough calls.

Just like players, though, umpires are still discovering all the idiosyncrasies of the field. None could have predicted the path that Daniel Murphy's disputed home run would take Wednesday night: arguably, off the yellow Subway sign hanging from the right-field Pepsi Porch, off the warning track, off the Modell's sign on the right-field wall and back down.

"That's the way the ballpark is built," said umpire Sam Holbrook, who was behind home plate Wednesday. "It's very challenging because there are so many nooks and crannies, and the fans are so close and can have an effect on a ball that's hit out there. And that's just something we have to deal with."

The task of identifying home runs has become steadily more difficult over the past decade as teams have opened new ballparks with eccentric field designs, replacing older, symmetric, multi-purpose facilities like Shea Stadium.

Also, Vanover said that since 2000, when National and American league umpires were merged into one staff, a crew might only visit each ballpark once or twice per year, as opposed to six or seven times. So it takes longer for each umpire to get to know new stadiums.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel said the team needs to start giving umpires a tutorial, particularly in left field, where two home runs -- one by Fernando Tatis and one by Gary Sheffield -- have already been reviewed (and upheld) on replay.

"I think what we have to remind them of when we go out, especially if it's a new crew, especially in left field, it's very difficult to reach below the orange line, because of the height of the rail," Manuel said. "I think if they kind of take that into consideration, it will save a lot more time if a ball is interfered, because it's very tough to interfere with a ball that will remain in play."

Part of the reason instant replay was implemented last season was so umpires wouldn't have to rely on their knowledge of a stadium.

It was a home run by Carlos Delgado, erroneously ruled foul at Yankee Stadium, that sparked renewed calls for video review last May. And fittingly, the Mets have been among its biggest beneficiaries.

Through Wednesday's games, umpires throughout baseball had used instant replay 12 times this season. Five have involved the Mets, and all have gone in their favor.

Still, video reviews can be time-consuming -- Wednesday's took four minutes -- and there are steps the Mets could take to make things easier on umpires.

"Look at Wrigley Field," Vanover said. "Those fans are right on that outfield wall, too, the same situation. But there's a basket there. The ball is either in the basket and a home run or it's on the playing field, and the fans really can't reach over there and interfere with it."

The Mets could also change the color of the Subway sign -- green, perhaps? -- to make it harder for balls to be lost in the backdrop. But a team spokesman said no such steps are being considered.

So Wednesday's scene -- umpires huddled around that 20-inch television, with players and fans all standing and waiting -- could become a familiar sight in Flushing.

"We have so many different things that can go on at this park, all kinds of angles," left fielder Gary Sheffield said. "Especially with a yellow sign up there with Subway, I'm sure there are going to be some more balls that are hit up there, and there are going to be some tough calls. Thank God for replay."